A laugh riot

Through May I Hebb Your Attention Pliss, avid blogger Arnab Ray has entered the world of print with a bang. Just like his blog (www.greatbong.net), his book is also based on random issues.

One of the best things about May I Hebb… is that it allows for experimental reading. Here’s how I read the book — the last chapter first, the first chapter last and the remaining chapters in an entirely arbitrary fashion. And yet, I did not feel I was missing out on an important detail because there is no plot.

It is no Indian soap opera

either. May I Hebb… is a brilliantly funny take on national, political, religious, and sexual issues (especially on the last one). It is a literary equivalent of the reality show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge. One joke after another on everything that ought to be joked about and some that ought not as well.

The last chapter is my favourite. Having read his blog several times didn’t hamper the joy of reading the same in the book. After all, some things are best read in print. 1900 Hotties is his humble attempt to

include call centres as one of the subjects. It was this

story that catapulted him to fame in the virtual world. And I still hold it as the best piece in the book.

Then there is a chapter on NRIs. From the courteous, but crafty Pyramid Scheme uncle who tries to lure you into his net, to the over-enthusiastic cultural aunty who makes you look like a fool by forcing you to sing and dance at parties. Aunty, needless to say, tries to ensnare you into a marriage trap by asking, “Will you marry my daughter?”.

This chapter revels in stereotyping NRIs. Even though you might not have met the typical NRI, you are sure to have met their Indian counterparts. While you read on, you only chuckle at the so-and-so aunty who makes for the perfect saree-vending aunty.

And if you were thinking this book is frivolous, wait till you get to Arnab’s PhD thesis. It is a socio-cultural study of sexual frustration in India. From references to how Bollywood titillates Indian audiences to the boy-next-door Poltu’s (almost) sexcapades, it is a wonderful insight.

While we understand that

Bollywood played an integral role in the lives of those who grew up in the ’80s, this book could have done with a little less of it. Chapters on Bollywood have too many Hindi dialogues in it. Reading a different language in an English book can be irksome. Having an English translation doesn’t really help much.

That said May I Hebb… is sure to raise your spirits. And it is best read with some Bappida music playing in the background n

—shilpa@expressbuzz.com